MCU

 MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

 The Marvel Cinematic Universe or the MCU is a media franchise created by Marvel Studios and set primarily in a shared universe, with some installments also set in adjacent or branching realities.

 Why Do People Love the MCU?

If you’re new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you may be wondering: Why should I care? It’s just a bunch of superhero movies; what’s the big deal? I don’t read comic books; how could I possibly be even remotely interested? And these are all fair questions! 

Clearly, it’s one of the most popular franchises in the world for a reason. Fans all around the world who have never even picked up a comic book are nevertheless obsessed with the films and shows. One reason is Marvel’s mastery of origin stories. There are several MCU films, particularly in the universe’s early days, solely dedicated to discovering a protagonist’s powers and how they became involved with a major conflict. These films mean that you don’t need to read hundreds of comic issues to know what’s happening. In other words, these origin stories make the barrier to entry very low.

History of the MCU

Content within the MCU traces its roots to comics, dating back to 1939, when Timely Comics was founded. It later became Atlas Comics and ultimately transformed into its present-day form of Marvel Comics in the 1960s.

Several classic characters came out of the early days of Marvel Comics. Captain America was arguably the first iconic comic book character to come from Marvel, which was still known as Timely Comics at the time. Many of the most popular superheroes were created when Marvel Comics came into being in the 60s, led most prominently by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko. Famous characters from this era include Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and the Avengers, among others. These characters are still popular today, speaking to the staying power of their stories. 

Marvel declared bankruptcy in 1996 but recovered after merging with Toy Biz to create Marvel Enterprises. In 2005, the company changed its name again to Marvel Entertainment. Finally, in 2009, The Walt Disney Company purchased Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion, thus paving the way for a major increase in content production.

Arguably, the most prominent figure in the creation of the MCU was producer Kevin Feige, who later became an influential executive of Marvel Studios. The interconnectedness of the comics inspired the idea of this shared cinematic universe.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe officially came into existence in 2008 with the movie Iron Man, which also kicked off the MCU's Phase system. Phase One began in 2008 and ended in 2012 with the record-breaking film The Avengers. Phase Two began with an Iron Man movie, just as its predecessor did: 2013’s Iron Man 3, and the Phase ended in 2015 with Ant-Man. Phase Three began in 2016 with Captain America: Civil War and ended in 2019 with Spider-Man: Far From Home.

The Sagas are another aspect of the Phase system: The Infinity Saga and The Multiverse Saga. The Infinity Saga, named for the titular Infinity Stones and the two groundbreaking films Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), spans Phases One, Two, and Three. 

The Multiverse Saga spans Phases Four, Five, and Six. This Saga is named for the titular Multiverse, which plays a massive role in many stories throughout these three Phases. Notably, The Multiverse Saga is the first Saga to contain television shows in addition to the movies. Phase Four is the first Phase to include television shows.

Why You Should Get Into the MCU?

Most of the time, when you go to the movies or settle in on the couch to watch the latest streaming show, you enjoy the content you’re watching, maybe discuss it a bit with a friend, family member, or coworker, and then move on from it entirely. But what if you could treasure every movie and show you watch as a single facet of a larger story? This is precisely what the MCU allows fans to do.

The MCU has one of the world's most diverse and passionate fandoms. By becoming an MCU fan, you immediately join a community millions of people strong. Fans share a deep connection to the characters and stories within the universe, sharing in the thrill and excitement of a new entry in the greater tapestry of the MCU. Whether watching the latest movie or show, binging everything all over again, or conversing with friends in person or online, you are never alone in your love for the universe.

Regarding the content itself, the MCU has several iconic cinematic moments in its repertoire. From Iron Man walking away from an explosion to the original Avengers surveying the battle in the heart of New York City and Captain America gathering heroes throughout the universe with the iconic phrase “Avengers Assemble,” these scenes have had an impact on the history of movies forevermore, and experiencing them gives fans the ability to have a front-row seat to unique cinematic achievements.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the MCU is its ever-evolving storytelling landscape. The days of the universe solely consisting of blockbuster movies are over: now, we get the benefit of these blockbuster movies in addition to television shows, direct-to-streaming releases, and other unique formats that challenge our typical perception of how stories like this should be told. From galaxy-spanning epics to character-driven stories, the MCU has something for everyone to enjoy.

The MCU has grown beyond just a single aspect of pop culture; it’s a mainstay. Characters like Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow are cultural icons recognized even by people who haven’t seen a single Marvel movie. You can hear phrases from the films in daily conversation and memes from the movies and shows on social media feeds are commonplace. Familiarizing yourself with the MCU means that you can participate in various discussions and understand references encountered in person and online. Becoming a fan of this universe is more than just consuming content; it allows you to interact with impactful stories that shape our collective imagination.

The Phase System

As the history section describes, the MCU has an organizational system based on phases. Currently, there are six Phases, broken up into two Sagas of three Phases. Phases One, Two, and Three comprise The Infinity Saga, and Phases Four, Five, and Six comprise The Multiverse Saga. The Phase system will be your best guide if you want to watch the movies and shows in chronological/release order.

The Timeline

The MCU timeline is complex due to the sheer amount of content within the universe.

The Multiverse

An aspect of the MCU that puts a slight complication on determining the timeline placement of certain movies and shows is the introduction of the Multiverse. There is no simple way to describe the Multiverse, but put as simply as possible: the Multiverse is the collection of all existing realities; different realities, residing on their own timeline, exist for every possible outcome of an event.